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Proponents of a project to build a new hospital in St. Helens say it is unlikely that the state will reverse its decision to deny the project a certificate of need.

The Columbia Health District met Oct. 5 with the Oregon Public Health Division to appeal a decision to deny a certificate of need to construct a new 12-bed hospital in St. Helens. The district said the hospital is needed to avoid costly and frequent emergency vehicle trips to the closest hospitals in Portland and Longview, Wash. But the state claims the district’s proposal would not significantly reduce trips to Portland nor would it provide health-care savings to residents using the new facility.

During a hearing that lasted more than three hours last Tuesday, the Columbia Health District was able to give testimony supporting the project, according to health district board chair Jay Tappen.

“It didn’t sound promising that the state is going to change its mind,” Tappen said. “This would have been a great project for the community. This community is going to grow and you have to add something to the system to support that.”

After Oct. 25, the state will have ten days to issue a final order on the certificate of need for the St. Helens hospital project. If the certificate is denied again, Tappen said the health district board would have to decide whether to pursue further legal action to get the project approved.